Foot-arch support



J. MAY

FOOT ARCH SUPPORT Feb. 5 1929.

Filed 001;. 27, 1926 Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES NT OFFICE.

JOSEPH MAY, or FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN, GERMANY.

FOOT-ARCH SUPPORT.

Application filed October 27, 1926, Serial No. 144,442, and in Germany January 13, 1926.

Bandages in the form of a cuff and of elastic fabric adapted to be fitted over the middle portion of the foot are well known. They are adapted to hold together the bonesof the middle portion of the foot and in this way to somewhat remove the load from the foot. A sinking of the arch of the foot as a result of the change of position or shape of the bones or of the whole of its structure are not prevented by these bands or arch supports. I

The present invention relates to an arch support which is composed of an annular bandage adapted to be fitted around the middle portion of the foot, and a tension band secured thereto and extending therefrom in a particular manner. By means of this combination the new arch support in addition to the corset like strapping together or the holding together of themiddle portion of the foot also exerts an elastic tension upon the whole arch by means of which this is rendered more capable of acting as a support and is protected from collapsing or bending inwardly. The support thus operates inthe same manner as the tension and pulling muscles of the foot and the bandage passing around the middle port-ion of the foot and holding to ether the bones of the middle portion of the foot provides the points of attachment for the pulling band which extends in a particular manner. I I

The drawing illustrates dlagrammatlcally by way of example a form'of construction of the invention and its method of application.

Figure 1 is a view looking atan angle from the bottom against the soleof the left foot. Figure 2 is a plan looking towards the sole of the right foot, and

Fi ure 3 is an elevation of the outside of the rlght foot.- r

The new arch support consists of two main portions namely the bandage a for the middle portion of the foot, and the tension band I), which both consist of a suitable elastic fabric, for example rubber fabric. At the front end of the cuff like piece of fabric a forming the bandage for the middle portion of the foot and bearing against the sole of the foot there is secured along its whole width thetension band 6. This hand then passes to the inner side of the foot in a direction diagonal to this and at an angle upwardly and rearwardly to below the inner joint, is then passedfreely around the heel and the rear part of the foot and is then firmly secured at its other end at the other side of the foot to the rear lateral edge of the bandage for the middle portion of the foot. y The portion of the tension band I) resting upon the bandage a is rigidly connected to this so that it is not capable of changing its position. The material of the tension band at this point may be stronger. The tension band can also be strengthened by applying thereto or inserting therein material which is more or less elastic such as rubber, leather'or the like. The strengthened'sole portion may at the points which come into consideration be provided with separate pockets for the reception of suitablesupporting or insertion bodies for the heel, the middle foot or the metatarsal arch.

The end of the tension bandwhich comes to lie on the outer side of the foot may also be forked so that one strand can be connected abov'eand the other below the outer joint to the bandage for the middle portion of the foot. The connection to thismay be permanent, detachable or adjustable. Of importance as regards the invention are the particular points of engagementand attachment of the tension band to the bandage for the middle portion of the foot and the particular course of the former. In this combination the tension band co-operates with the band- I age holding together the foot in the same manner as the tension muscles of the normal arch "of thefoot. It embracesv the entire inner side of the foot and thus prevents-straining thereof and consequent collapsing there- I of'by reason of strain.v In so far as bot-h parts of the, arch support (bandage and tension band) firmly hear one above the other they form a zone with a strengthened tensioning pull which at'insecure portions of the foot providesan increased yet resilient resistance. I I

In the example of construction illustrated there is shown on thesole'also a'separate pocket 0 for the reception of an exchangeable cushion like material (Z serving as ametatarsal support. I

The new arch support replaces the known fittings adapted to be inserted into foot wear and is also particularly suit-able in cases where it is necessarythat the free movement of the foot must notbeobstructed as in the case of jumping, gymnastics and the taking part other sports. e

and rearwardly at an angle, then passing under the lower extremity of the tibia and freely around the heel and rear part of the foot and having its other end secured to the rear lateral edge of the fabric at the other side of the foot, said fabric being passed tightly around the middle portion of the foot.

In Witness whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH MAY. 

